Hanovers Hicklee Holsteins now has Master Breeder status - Cowsmo

Hanovers Hicklee Holsteins now has Master Breeder status

For Cameron Hickling achieving his Master Breeder shield has been his goal since he 1st started breeding cattle.  He always respected those Breeders who had achieved the status. But never thought he, himself would realize it.

Hicklee Holsteins - 2012 Master Breeder
Hicklee Holsteins – 2012 Master Breeder

The Hicklings have always been making improvement in the farming operation. In 2009 a old barn was tore down and a new new heifer barn was built.   2008 brought the replacement of all the stalls to make them larger for cow comfort. Along with purchasing buying quota for the last number of years a coverall has been added for hay storage.

The most influential cow that helped earn the Master Breeder Shield for Hicklee was a home bred cow,  Hicklee Milan Gerda VG-86 3*

Cameron doesn’t purchase a lot of cattle but when he does he looks for proven cow families with a lot of high type.  The last animal that was added to the Hicklee herd was Richardo Goldwyn Darling  in 2009. Darling is a sister to Richardo Goldwyn Dawnette –  Ex 95.

The first cow flushed was Hicklee Milan Gerda 12 years ago.  Today they continue to flush top cows in their herd 2 or 3 times per year  and implant the majority of these eggs are sexed and implanted.

Sires that worked well in the Hicklee herd: Outside, Shychief & Starbuck.  Currently the Bulls that are being used are, Goldwyn, Damion and Dundee, Shottle. The sires that get used in the herd have to be  high type with good feet & legs & udders

Camerons  breeding philosophy has never changed, he breed for good feet & legs, “welded on udders” and good production! He aims to and enjoys breeding good show cows!

Before achieving his Master Breeder Shield Cameron  considers Breeding the Grand Champion Calf at the 4-H Classic at the Royal in 2002 (Hicklee Leduc Noami) and then the Reserve Grand Calf at the 4-H Classic (RAWF) in 2007 with Hicklee Rubens Sammy his greatest accomplishment as a Dairy Farmer and Holstein Breeder.   He also won Reserve Grand at the Grey-Bruce County Show in 2011 with Hicklee Goldwyn Giggle VG-88

Future goals at Hicklee are to continue to breed typey cows that are successful in the show ring and to increase promotion of our herd through marketing, embryo sales, etc.

Hicklee Facts:
Total # of animals: 30 cows milking and 90 head total
Herd Classification: 7 Ex, 25 VG, 9GP
Herd Production: BCA: 203-208-197
Acres – forage and grains grown: 100 acres plus 50 rented acres – grow 15 acres of corn, 30 acres of mixed grain, 20 acres of pasture and the rest hay
Type of feed fed:  corn sileage, dry hay, balage
Feed bought:  16% pellet Dairy ration
People involved: Cameron, with the help of our eldest daughter Morgan for chores.  In the summer our nephew also helps out.

Hicklee Milan Gerda VG-86 3*
Hicklee Milan Gerda VG-86 3*
Reserve Grand Bruce/Grey County Show - 2011 - Hicklee Goldwyn Giggle VG-88
Reserve Grand Bruce/Grey County Show – 2011 – Hicklee Goldwyn Giggle VG-88
The Hickling Family: LtoR McKenna, Madison, Morgan, Tammy and Cameron
The Hickling Family: LtoR McKenna, Madison, Morgan, Tammy and Cameron

 

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